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Sunday, May 24, 2009

MR. TARUN VIJAY, MADE SOME NOTABLE SUGGESTIONS, - ESTABLISHMENT OF A PRAVASI BHARTIYA CHAIR TO DOCUMENT THE LEARNING’S OF THE INDIAN DIASPORA IN THEIR STAY ABROAD ENCOURAGE THE STUDY OF INDIAN CIVILISATION THROUGH CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES ORGANISED BY THE ICCR (INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS) INSTITUTION OF AN ANNUAL PRAVASI YOUTH AWARD THAT COULD BE GIVEN AWAY ON THE OCCASION OF THE YOUTH ICON SWAMI VIVEKANAND’S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY ON JANUARY 12

On the first day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a special session based on the theme Diaspora Youth and India, Blueprint for Engagement was chaired by the dynamic and young parliamentarian, Mr. Jyotirditya Scindia. This interactive session drew a lot of enthusiasm from the Diaspora youths. Mr Scindia identified Culture, Education and Health as the three focus areas for development. He stressed on the need for two-way exchange programmes, distance learning programmes and the need for initiating world-class institutes in India. He was of the opinion that the Diaspora youth could lend its support by volunteering their time and effort to developing the health sector as India seeks to create a market for health services and attract private investment in this sector. In a special address, Mr. Arun Shourie, Minister of Disinvestments and Communications & Information Technology encouraged the Diaspora youth to excel in their chosen field of interest and profession, so as to keep India shining. He urged them to keep their connections alive with India and work in partnership with this country through a healthy transfer and exchange of best practices from across the world in terms of laws, policies, procedures, technology and practices. The session was moderated by the vivacious Ruby Bhatia who summed up saying that youth from both overseas and India need to dispel their illusions and engage in cultural exchange programmes, build a collective identity and consider setting up a Youth Diaspora body. She mooted the suggestion of creating a virtual community with the assistance of a youth specific portal. Other prominent speakers in the session included Mr. Shiren Dewani, Senior Associate, Reorganisation Services, Deloitte & Touche, UK; Ms. S. Mitra Kalita, President, SAJA, USA; Mr. Parag Khanna, World Economic Forum Global Governance Initiative, The Brookings Institution, USA; Mr. Karan Manhas, MLA, Vancouver, Canada; Ravindren C Ponniah, Student Malaysia; Mr. S. Arunachalam, Director, AR International, Hong Kong; Mr. Anand Shah, Indicorps, USA and Mr. Tarun Vijay, Editor, Panchjanya. Each one of the speakers expressed their emotional attachment to their Indian Origin and immense pride in their heritage. They felt that even though they were now natives of other countries, they will be Indians in their heart forever. Mr. Tarun Vijay, Editor, Panchjanya made some notable suggestions, - Establishment of a Pravasi Bhartiya Chair to document the learning’s of the Indian Diaspora in their stay abroad Encourage the study of Indian civilisation through cultural exchange programmes organised by the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) Institution of an annual Pravasi Youth award that could be given away on the occasion of the youth icon Swami Vivekanand’s birth anniversary on January 12 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2004 is being jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) from January 9-11, 2004. The three-day event was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and followed by the presentation of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2004. January 9 each year has been chosen as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas both in India and abroad as it was on this date in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi finally returned to India after almost two decades in South Africa. The recommendation of celebration of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas had been made to recognise the contribution of the Indian Diaspora in the political, economic, social, academic and cultural fields.

1 comment:

With respect to your article 'Who falls if India rises' I would like to state the following:

1. I don't think the election is the people's verdict. I strongly feel that there's something fishy in the election process and its outcome. Because lot of improbable things have happened not only in Tamil Nadu but in all states of India to make congress come to power and get the magic mark of 272 (it seems). There is no wave for congress to sweep the elections this way. If it is one or two states it is understandable. But if it gets so many seats/votes in almost all states it seems to be dubious. And rigging EVMs is not a big deal for congress and they will do anything to stay in power. There are too many loose ends which can't be explained logically.

2. See also the statement of Mr. Subramania Swamy in the 'The HIndu' recently.

3. If we can expose and prove any one irregularity, the elections can be made null and void.